www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Bishops Recommend Common Date for Easter

That is essentially the Aleppo recommendation as noted above in a previous post.

The governments have already followed the Church in that they have adopted the Gregorian Calendar and de facto its Paschalion. An adjustment would be required if the Aleppo method or a similar one was adopted. Considering how close Aleppo's particular precise "astronomical" dating is to the already existing Gregorian Paschaleon ( link [oikoumene.org] ), a reasonable approach would be to just keep the Gregorian method.

The "Nicean Formula along with the astronomical dating as a means of celebrating a common date" does not per se give a unique date (A meridian or functional equivalent must also be chosen.). One solution, however, already existing and in use, is the Gregorian Calendar/Paschaleon.

This reminds me of a family situation that goes something like this.

A family would gather periodically to celebrate a unique foundational event in the family’s history. Since there was some disagreement as to exactly when this celebration should happen, a highly regarded family patriarch at the time had specified that the gathering would be the first Sunday of each month and at noon, that is, when the sun was at its zenith. This was because the sun’s zenith and noonday light had a correspondence with the foundational event in the family’s past. The father also noted that they would follow a certain clock, one that was commonly used by many in those days, in reckoning the meeting time, although he was aware that the clock was off a bit.

Time and generations past and the members noticed that their meeting was occurring later and later in the day. Some, realizing that the clock was running too slow, wanted to fix and reset it to correspond with the sun’s zenith when reading 12 noon; others refused because they considered any correction as an innovation that did not follow the legacy of the father. So two groups were formed, the one keeping the status quo, called the orthoclocks, and the other with the revised timekeeping, called the cathoclocks.

More time and generations past, and one month the two groups met according to custom. Both groups celebrated worthily and well. But the cathoclocks met at noon on their clock which did in fact correspond with the sun’s zenith as the father had specified. The orthoclocks, however, were meeting at night, in pitch dark, to also celebrate the "foundational event in the family’s past" that had a correspondence with the "sun’s zenith and noonday light."

Nevertheless, it is said that the orthoclocks would at times say they were “happy” with their situation of celebrating in the dark.

I have plenty of candles.

I ask that this does not turn into another argument about calendars. Been there. Done that.

I think we all need to accept that many parts of the Church - East and West - are not currently able to put value in common witness. At least not to the point of saying anymore than "yes, we value common witness and you can adopt what we do because we've dogmatized the calendar and we ain't changing" (and this goes for pockets East and West).

As a practical way forward I'd say that the whole of the Middle East should adopt the Julian Calendar since it would provide a local common witness of Christ. The Muslims look at us and laugh. How can we be right about the Resurrection when we can not even agree on what day to celebrate it? We've made our small differences so much part of our identity that witnessing Christ is secondary.

I question that it is a way forward. It would achieve a local unity but in doing so it also only further entrenches (see above comments from this thread only) a divergent, defective calendar in the lives of the people. So the Muslims laugh because two Christian groups can't agree. What are Muslims going to be doing when the Christians together agree to use a faulty calendar, one that is contrary to their own accepted, stated norms? When a disinterested group (Aleppo, 1997) with Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant representation examined the issue of a common dating for Easter, they did not recommend acceptance of the Julian calendar as a solution.

If two groups are in their respective (similar) boats rowing and they realize they'd do better to pool their resources, it is not good sense for the group in the boat that is dry to get into the one that is taking on water. There is a decided preference in this forum's threads on the calendar issue (i.e., see above quotes for this thread) indicating a presumed preference for the Julian. By way of explanation, not argument, voicing a contrary opinion in response recommending the dry boat seems reasonable and warranted.

Oh, I am in general agreement. Your science is not faulty. But most parties are not approaching the calendar question on the basis of science. It mostly about emotion. It's like the old Slavic tale about a man marooned on an island in the middle of the ocean. Ten years later he is discovered. And it turns out that he has build two churches on the island. He is asked by the rescuers: "Why did you build two churches?" "Because, he says, that is the church I go to and the other one is the church I DON'T go to!"

Some of the mistrust East has for West and West has for East is legitimate. Much of it is not. Much healing is needed before the question can be resolved on the basis of science. I'd even go so far as to consider whether the Church is currently capable of following the example of the Church Fathers and blessing the civil calendar currently in use.

So in the short run (i.e., the next 4 or 5 decades), I'd say local unity in the Middle East can only be achieved if the West adopts the Julian Calendar in the Middle East. And, of course, there must be prayer. Much prayer.

And it is axiomatic that one must crawl before one can walk, that the cart should not come before the horse, and that perfect is the enemy of the good.

It has been a blessing to have Pascha together this year. I am looking forward to it again next year.

Perhaps one way is to proclaim a proposal to all churches in the world to have a 3 years fasting and prayer to determine the issue.
We argue a lot, spill ink a lot, but not giving in much consideration to pray together for resolution.
And I mean the whole, from grass root to top hierarchy.

But perhaps in the end, we will still not humble enough and say "Lord, after these 3 years, I know what you want. But please be merciful that I may keep this one unchanged."

Then better proclaim another 7 years of prayer and fasting together...

We've moved beyond the news item to revisiting the calendar - which is not, in itself 'news' and, as John has noted, 'been there, done that'.

Anyone desirous of devoting further hours of their calendar days or nights to the topic is welcome to open a new thread on the matter in an appropriate forum.

On Ray's expression of the joy of celebrating Pascha together and Alfonsus' recommendation of prayer and fasting as an approach to discerning what course of action should be taken, this thread is now closed. Thanks to all who have participated.

Many years,

Neil